New Delhi: Observing that the nation is going through a rough phase due to "wrong" economic policies and "corrupt" governance, BJP on Thursday asserted it was the only alternative which could deliver the country of such problems.

"The situation is very serious and difficult today...The wrong economic policies, and bad and corrupt governance has ruined our nation," BJP president Nitin Gadkari said at a function to launch the 150th year birth anniversary celebrations of Swamy Vivekananda here.

Gadkari said the country is facing serious challenges like corruption, prise rise and terrorism. He stated that "the BJP was the only alternative which could free it of such problems and take India among the top nations in the world".

He lamented that the Rupee was falling against the US Dollar, FDI had stopped coming into the country and the growth rate had fallen from 12 percent to seven percent, besides food inflation was touching as high as 18 percent.

The BJP president also made party workers take pledge on the occasion to follow the teachings, thoughts and principles of Swamy Vivekananda and help strengthen the country.

"By following the teachings and principles of Vivekananda, you will be paying the biggest tribute to him," he said.

He added that many BJP leaders like Atal Behari Vajpayee, L K Advani, Deen Dayal Upadhyay and Shyama Prasad Mukherjee followed the principles of Vivekananda and sought inspiration from the Swamy.

The party by following Vivekananda's principles would pave the way for a strong and prosperous India, Gadkari said, adding that, "We have to not only change the regime, but also change the nation and society..."

The BJP is into politics not just for itself, but for changing the nation and society, Gadkari added.